Brief Overview of What is Happening in Darfur:
See the attached Background Sheet for more information about the conflict.
Summary:
Sudan is the largest country in Africa. It is located in the northeastern part of thecontinent and bordered by nine countries including Egypt, Ethiopia and Chad.
The conflict in Darfur started in February 2003 as a result of rebel violenceagainst the Sudanese government, but government-backed militias (the
Janjaweed) quickly moved against civilians in the region.
The violence is ethnically based with the Arab Janjaweed fighting against theBlack villagers it is not religiously based as nearly everyone is Muslim.
Over 400,000 people have been killed so far as a result of the violence in Darfur.
Over half of the villages in Darfur have been burned to the ground.
Over 2.5 million people have been displaced within Darfur and over 200,000people are living in refugee camps in Chad.
Rape has been used widely as a weapon of war with women and girls prone tosexual violence when they go out of the camps to look for firewood or fuel.
In November 2006, the World Food Programme of the United Nations said that3.7 million people of the total 6 million people in Darfur need food aid.
While there are international aid organizations helping displaced people (likeOxfam, CARE, the International Rescue Committee and the UN), not enough
money has been received by these organizations to address the huge need in
Darfur.
The Sudanese government has agreed to allow the African Union to haveobserver troops in Darfur. These troops do not have the ability to intervene to
prevent violence or protect civilians due to a very limited mandate. They can
only act as observers.
In November 2006 there were 7,000 AU troops in Darfur. The number on theground is expected to soon grow to 11,000. Estimates say that at least 20,000
troops are needed to make an impact and help stop the violence.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation in May 2005 totry to bring the people who are responsible for the committed atrocities to justice.
The attacks by the Janjaweed and the Sudanese government have intended to destroy the
Black population of Darfur by doing many of the acts outlined in the 1948 Genocide
Convention, including
Killing members of the group;
Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
Creating living conditions of the group with the intent to bring about itsphysical destruction in whole or in part